Composition for coating fabrics



Patented Nov. 10, 1953 2,658,880 COMPOSITION FOR COATING FABRICS Ralph Landau, Brooklyn,

N. Y., assignor to Chempatents, Inc., New York,N. Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application April 10, 1950, Serial No. 155,129

9 Claims. 7 1

The present invention relates to improvements in fabrics and has particular reference to coated fabrics wherein a composition of matter is applied to the fabric, imparting desirable and markedly improved properties of fire resistance, scuff and weathering resistance, flexibility at extreme temperatures, dimensional stability and the like are attained in the fabric.

Heavy duty fabrics such as cotton ducking and the like are used extensively for tenting, deck covers, camouflage netting, raincoats and the like. While these accepted fabrics are suitable for most purposes, there is a considerable demand for lighter fabrics having all the desirable properties of duck, and in addition the properties mentioned above. For example, a satisfactory camouflage net may be constructed from burlap or duck strips, suitably colored to simulate natural ground cover. However, these nets rapidly accumulate moisture, oil and other materials, increasing in weight to an extent that erection of the nets becomes most difficult. In addition, the strip materials burn readily, mildew, and age rapidly upon exposure, undesirably modifying the original color plan of the net. In

The base fabric or cloth may consist of fabrics manufactured from natural fibers such as cottons, and from artificial fibers such as nylon, Orlon, polyethylene, and Saran. The preferred base cloth consistsof fiber glass cloth. This material has inherent properties of stability against deterioration as a result of chemical action or aging. In addition, glass fiber cloth is mildew proof, has a desirably high tensile strength, is light in weight, and is non-inflammable. These inherent properties of glass fiber cloth are augmented by application of the coating composition of the invention, and additional properties are imparted to the cloth which increase its utility for the purposes described.

The coating composition of the invention comprises a base material referred to hereinafter as the master mix, includin as components chlorinated polyethylene, antimony trioxide and a plasticizer.

The chlorinated polyethylene may have a chlorine content of from 5% to 85%, and preferably cold weather operations, duck treated against 1 water and fire stiffens so as to be unmanageable.

In providing a substitute for these accepted fabrics now available for the general purposes described, it is essential from the commercial standpoint that the product be as inexpensive as for example weatherproofed duck.

It is an object of the invention to provide a composition of matter for coating fabric materials to accomplish the aforementioned objecranging up to 50% and preferably will tives at a reasonable. cost in terms of the cost of presently available competitive products.

A further object is to provide a coated fabric characterized by flexibility at low temperatures as for example as low as -50 F. to 100 F., and l I which is self-extinguishing when ignited, the fabric being dimensionally stable at all conditions of humidity and temperature.

A further object is to provide a fabric coated with a composition providing protection for the fibers, and characterized by low migration and low sticking together of fabric surfaces under conditions of load and elevated temperatures.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

In its broadest application, the fabric product of the invention comprises a base cloth impregnated with a novel composition of matter which imparts the aforementioned desirable properties to the fabric. It will be noted that the coating composition of the invention preserves or augments the desirable properties already inherent in the base cloth, at the same time imparting additional desired properties thereto without deleterious effect on the inherent properties.

this material is unusually will contain about 28% chlorine. The master mix may contain from 20% to 85% of this materia1 by weight, 72% being the preferred proportion.

The antimony trioxide component may be present in an amount ranging up to 80% by weight, the preferred proportion being about 20%. r

The plasticizer may be present in an amount by weight of the master mix, be used in the proportion of about 23-10% by weight. A preferred plasticizer comprises tributyl cellosolve phosphate (tributoxyethylphosphate). It has been found that active in accomplishing the purposes described, particularly from the standpoint of retention of flexibility of the coated fabric at low temperatures as for example 70 F. or below.

Another preferred phosphate.

Other plasticizers which may be employed are tricresyl phosphate, di-2 ethylhexylphthalate, trioctylphosphate, 2 diethylhexyladipate and plasticizer is trichlorethyl commercial plasticizers readily available on the market. 7

These ingredients constitute the master mix. The antimony trioxide component should be employed in cases where it is desired that the coated fabric have self-extinguishing properties contrasting with inertness to combustion, it being particularly desirable to use antimony trioxide as a component in all cases Where the base fabric employed is capable of supporting combustion in any degree.

. Other ingredients may be added to the master mix such as pigments for purposes of color. For example, pigment may be added to the master mix in the proportion of 5% by weight of the rmx.

Carbon black may be added where desired, in

any form.desired,' it ;being preferred;to use a channel or a furnaceblack. The. carbon black may be added in a weight range of from to 20% of the master mix by weight, with a pre: ferred composition of about 3%. by weight.

The coating composition of the invention may be applied to the base fabricin any'manner, such as for example by applicator rollers, a squeegee operation, and the like, a preferred manner of application being disclosed and-claimed 1n. application Serial Number 158,497, filed April 27, 1950. It is desirable that the base fabric be thoroughly impregnated withthe coating composition with evenness and. regularity of application, in order to attain standardized properties for. the coated fabric.

Fabrics prepared in. accordance with the invention have wide application in meeting the rQquirements for tenting materialscamouflage nets, pro.- tective clothing and the like. Perhaps themost important combination of properties attained. re.- sides in the self-extinguishing nature of the cloth, its resistance to mildew,.lightness in weight,, dimensional stability, and flexibility at. extremely low temperatures. This is accomplished at a low cost compared with coating compositoinspresently available, as well; as thecost of materials currently employed for the general, purposes enumerated such as cotton ducking. A glass fiber cloth coated in accordance with the inventionis uniquely suited for usein the manufactureof camouflage materials.

A marked and essential feature of the invention resides in the combination of ingredients employed to attain a fabric having the above-enu merated properties.- Not all. chlorinated hydrocarbons will have the specific low. temperature properties prescribed.- The plasticizers enumerated above overcome the natural tendency of, the chlorinated hydrocarbons tostiffen at low-temperatures. Animportant element of the invention is that retention of flexibility at low tempera.-

tures is attained with the, use; of moderate amounts of plasticizenwhich are also satisfactory at high temperatures; in that they do not tend to migrate.

Chlorinated polyethylene has. a, marked compatibility for. the plasticizer andother ingredients which is lacking with other conventionally. .used materials such as.- polyethylene, for. example. Chlorinated polyethylene also is. characterized by self-exinguishing properties, which permits the use of smaller amounts of antimony trioxide.. The low chlorine. content ofchlorinated polyethylene contributes to its stability under extremesof tema perature, whereby gradual changes-in: the physical properties of thefabric due to leachingou-t of chlorine,.are avoided. Prior art uses oflchlorihated-polyethylene specify a very high chlorine content, in combination with antimony trioxide, the present inventionconstituting a-departure from this known practice.

Other coating compounds such as vinylcompounds,v lack the essential low temperature fiex ibility of the present invention,- unless substantial quantities of plasticizer are used, which causes the material to migrate at higher temperatures.

While theinventionhas been described with reference to specific materials and applications, it. is nottobe limited save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A coating compositioncomprising chlori- 4 nated polyethylene havinga chlorine-rcontent of from 5%v to .85 andpresent in an amount of approximately 72% by weight, approximately 20% by weight of antimony trioxide, and approximately 3%. by weight of a plasticizer.

2. In the composition set forth in claim 1, the plasticizer consisting of trichlorethylphosphate.

3rd coated fabric comprising a cloth base woven from glass fibers and coated with a composition-comprising approximately 72% by weight ofchlorinated polyethylene, approximately 20% by=weight of antimony trioxide, approximately 8 by weight of tri-chloroethylphosphate, the chlorinated polyethylene having a chlorine. content of -approximately 28%, the mix having incorporated therein 3% by weight of. the total mixof carbon black, and a pigment;

4. Acoating composition comprising amixture of chlorinated polyethylene having a chlorine content'of from 5 to and present in. -an amount of approximately 72% by weight, approximately 20% by-weight of antimonytrioxide, approximately 8% by. weight of a plasticizer, and approximately 3% by weight of the totalmix of carbon black.

5. A fire resistant coated fabric comprising a fabric; base wovenifromyglassfibers and. coated with a composition. comprising chlorinated polyethylene having a ,chlorinecontent of: from 5% to 85%, and present in. an amount of 'approximately-72% by weight, approximately-20% by weightof antimony trioxide,: and approximately 8% ,by weight of :a plasticizer.

6; A; coating composition. comprising chlorinatedpolyethylenehaving a chlorinecontent of about 28%, andpresent. inan amount of approximately 72% by weight, approximately 20% by weight of antimony trioxide,: and approximately 8% by weight of aplasticizer;

7. A coating composition comprising chlorinated polyethylene having a chlorine content of 23-85%, and present in, anamount of approximately '72 by weight, approximately 20% by weight of antimony trioxide, and approximately 8% by weight oftributoxyethyl phosphate.

8. A coated ,fabric comprising a cloth base woven fromglassfibers and coated with compositioncomprising approximately 72% by weight of,chlorinated;polyethylene, approximately 20% by .weight of antimonyitrioxide, approximately 8% by weight-of tributoxyethyl phosphate, the chlorinated polyethylene having a chlorine contellbbf; approximately-28%,. the mix having incoIfDOrated. therein 3%- by weight -ofthe total mix 10f carbon black; and fa pigment.-

9-. Ai coating. composition 3 consisting essentially of chlorinated polyethylene-having a chlorine content .of from 5%xto85 and present in'an amount of "approximately 72% by -wei-ght, ap-

proximately;20%': by. weightof antimony tri' Number Name, Dates.

2,480,009 Fletcher, Aug]: 23,1949- 2,480,298 Hapn 1 .Aua 30,-.{194a OTHER REFERENCES '1 Ind and Eng. Chem. articleby. Hahn et,,al .,,vol, 37 No. 6, June 1945, pages 526-533; 

1. A COATING COMPOSITION COMPRISING CHLORINATED POLYETHYLENE HAVING A CHLORINE CONTENT OF FROM 5% TO 85%, AND PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY 72%, BY WEIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 20% BY WEIGHT OF ANTIMONY TRIOXIDE, AND APPROXIMATELY 8% BY WEIGHT OF A PLASTICIZER. 